Striker device for player pianos



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,820

' C. T. STEPHENS STRIKER DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS Filed Feb. 2, 1925 I I i Cfiaricyzffcp 625 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 14, 1928. V

UNITED S'I'A'I'ES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES T. STEPHENS, OF CHIGAGO I-IEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO. GEORGE S. ANGUS, OF'CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

STRIKER DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

Application filed February 2, 1925. Serial No. 6,382.

This invention relates to a striking device important feature of my invention, andwhen for player pianos and has'for its primary taken in con unction withthe many other object the construction of a striking device advantages of the structure provides a'meriof two parts readily disconnected allowing llOIlOLlS invention and, therefore, I do not ready access to the air chamber. desire to be limited in any manner except as to An object of the invention is the construcset forth in the follow ng claims. tion of the arm, frame and diaphragm to- It w1ll be noted that the device shown congether as a unit to be readily connected or sists of a tapered casing or air box 2 which disconnected from the air chamber structure. gradually decreases in depth from one end A feat re of my invention is the novel to the other. The bottom of each box is at 05 manner of associating and connecting the retached to its associated player action by movable parts so that they will always asscrews as shown here so it can be easily resume an accurate position when arranged in moved. The casing or box is provided with lace. a removable top which carries the flexible Besides the above my invention is distindiaphragm 6. The body of the box and the 70 guished in the simplicity of construction. top are preferably made of metal and will With these and other objects in view the therefore 7 last for many years. Since the invention will be better understood from the diaphragm is not provided with folds as in following description taken in connection the ordinary striker action, it will last for with the accompanying drawing, wherein: many years. If, for example, in transport- 7 Fig; 1 is a top plan View of the device. ing the device or for any other reason a dia- Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 phragm should be injured, it is only necesf Fi 1, sary to send for another to from the factory Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 and any one can remove t e top having the of Fig. 1. injured diaphragm and place the new top in 80 v Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional View with position. parts separated. Having thus described my invention, what Again referring to the drawing illustrat- I claim 1S2. ing one of the many constructions of my in- 1. A striker device for player pianos com- 80 vention, the numeral 1 designates the supprising a tapered'casing deeper at one end 85 porting structure shown in this particular than at the other separate from the pneucase as a casing 2 having the side wall 3 and {Hallie element and open at the top, said casbottom 4 provided with a hole 5 for com- 111g adapted to be fastened to the pneumatic munication with the well-known pneumatic element and provided in its bottom with an elements. It will be noted that the top of the opening which communicates therewith, a 9

casing is open over which extends a diacove-r for said casing having an opening phragm 6 having the required flexibility with therethrough, a flexible diaphragm confined the marginal edge portion sealed in any suitat its edges by said cover so as to close said able manner to the frame 7 In securing the opening, and a striker arm projecting part diaphragm to the frame the clamp 8 may also Way across the opening in the cover and at- 96 be used. tached to said diaphragm.

Struck from the frame is a tongue 9 re- 2. A striker device for player pianos comceived in a hole 10 formed in the striker arm prising a casing separate from the pneumatic 11 to pivot the arm to the frame. One end element and open at the top, said casing 5 of the arm is rigidly attached to the dia adapted to be fastened to the pneumatic elewe hragm as is indicated at 12. Thus, it will ment and provided in its bottom with an be seen that the arm, diaphragm and frame opening which communicates therewith, a are connected together as a unit in a very cover for said casing having an opening accurate manner and these parts may be therethrough, a flexible diaphragm confined 5 readily connected or disconnected from the at its edges by said cover so as to close said 105 casing so that ready access may be had to the opening, and a striker arm projecting part air chamber, or a new unit substituted. way across the openingin the cover and at- The accuracy with which the parts may be tached to said diaphragm, a projection on assembled and the simple substantial manner said cover extending through a hole in said in which the parts are connected is a very striker arm and which acts as a pivotal point me for the striker 'a'rrn so that when the diaphragm is moved the striker arm Will. be rocked about said pivotal point.

3. A striker device for player pianos comprising a tapered easinggradr'ially decreasing in depth from one end toward the other, separate from the pneumatic element and open at the top, said casing adapted to be fastened to the pneumatic element and provided in its bottom With an opening which communicates therewith, a removable cover for said casing having an opening there through, a flexible diaphrag'n'i confined at its edges by said cover so as to close said opening, and 'a striker arm proj eating part Way across the opening in the cover and attached to said diaphragm. V

4. A striker device for player pianos comprising a tapered easinggradually increasing in de th from one end to the other and separate "mm the pneiiinatic element and open at the top, said casing adapted to be fastened to the pneumatic element and being provided in its bottom with an opening which communicates therewith, a cover for said casing having an opening therethrough, a flexible diaphragm confined at its edges by said cover so as to close said opening, a striker arm projecting from the shallow end of the casing across said opening toward the deeper end of the casing and directly fastened to said diaphragm beyond the middle portion of the Casing so that the throw of the diaphragm due to movementof the striker arm is in'the deeper end of the'cas'ingr In'testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES T. STEPHENS. 

